Dear Sangha,

Is it fall already? The mornings and evenings are growing cooler and sweeter; the leaves are starting to turn yellow, and red, and gold. A few days ago the Harvest Moon was so bright and brilliant it felt like you could read by its light.

As Dogen writes in the Genjo Koan: “You do not call winter the beginning of spring, nor summer the end of spring.” Every season is an expression complete this moment. Trying to live wholeheartedly, close to the land, I’ve come to learn that the distinction between seasons—summer to autumn, autumn to winter—is less of a strict demarcation than it is the gentle passage of one day to the next. One moment to the next. By noticing the present moment, feeling the unfixed, subtle shifts in temperature and light, I can feel the interconnected body of the earth changing. Just as everything changes, too.

With that, as the calendar turns toward autumn, here are some memories as we savor the last warmth of summer up at Ancestral Heart!

– Larissa P.

June, July, and August are the peak months to enjoy working in the garden. Between weeding, planting, harvesting, and processing, many hands are needed to turn the bounty of the garden into flavors and colors we can enjoy year-round.

The quarry at Watershed—now with a paddleboard—is a beloved refuge from the heat for residents and locals!

We hosted Skit Night—a Tassajara Practice Period tradition—for the first time at the Millerton Zendo! Our local sangha gathered to perform skits, songs, and sea shanties celebrating the ups and downs of wholehearted practice.

At the end of the September, we welcomed a visit from our dear friend Tova Green, a poet, dharma teacher, and director of Branching Streams, which connects 75+ temples in Suzuki Roshi’s lineage. It was wonderful to have Tova visit us at Ancestral Heart!

Until next month!